Stocking



(No Model.)

S. A. WINTER.

STOCKING.

No. 596,347. Patented Dec. 28,1897.

ahmwboz Sal'ahiflWjllZ'er attorney n4: NORRiS PEYERS cc. PNOTO-UTHO" wuuma'row n. c.

UNITED ITATES much.

SARAH ANNA WINTER, OF BUFFALO, NEW" YORK.

STOCKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,347, dated December 28, 1897.

Application filed March 2 '71 1 3 97- To' all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, SARAH ANNA Woman, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stockings or Nether Garments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in stockings or nether garments.

The object of the invention is to provide a stocking or nether garment that will be selfsupporting-that is, one which can be secured in such manner to the body of the wearer that garters or attachments to other garments are entirely unnecessary. This I accomplish by providing a stocking with an upper extension of length sufficient to surround the lower body portion of the wearer. Any suitable means may be employed for holding the end or ends of such extensions of the stocking, such securing means being preferably located on the side of the body opposite from the leg on which the stocking is Worn. This upper extension or elongation of the stocking extends across the front and rear of the lower body portion of the wearer, such extensions of a pair of stockings conjunctively forming a space or opening between them.

' The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the general outline of a figure with my improved stockings or nether garments thereon. Fig. 2 shows the two members of a pair removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the stockings with its upper portion distended. Figs. 4: and 5 show slight modifications.

Referring to the drawings, A designatesa pair of stockings or nether garments, each member a or a. of which is formed in the ordinary way,like stockings in general use,up to what normally constitutes its upper endthat is, adjacent to the thigh of the wearer. With this upper end of each stocking or member is formed an elongation or extension I) of approximately triangular form, the front edge I) of which, however, being slightly curved Serial No. 629,490. (No model.)

inward, following a concaved line, while the rear edge 19 is slightly curved outward in convex form. The front portion b of this elongation or extension is designed to extend over the abdomen of the wearer, while the rear portion 19 is passed across the lower portion of the wearers back or hips. The extreme ends 11 of this elongation or extension are connected together by any suitable fas tener, (indicated at 0,) preferably at the side of the body opposite to the leg on which the stocking is fitted; but I do not confine myself to any special means for fastening or se curing this elongation or extension, nor to the point of location thereof. It is obvious that by widening the ends of this elongation a series of fasteners may be employed, as shown at D, Fig. 5. Then, again, the elongation may be in the form of a band or sash, which, after being made to encircle the waist or lower body portion of the wearer, is fastened at d to the inner portion of itself. (See Fig. 4.)

It will be observed that each stocking or garment is provided with an upper elongation or extension which completely encircles the waist or lower body portion of the wearer and is ordinarily secured at the side of the body opposite from the leg on which the stocking is worn. Thus it will be seen that the stocking is self-supporting, requiring no garters or other independent means of attachment. As before stated, any suitable fastener for connecting or holding the ends of the elongated portion may be employed, and likewise it must be understood that such fastening means may be adjustable so as to accommodate the stocking to persons of different sizes and shapes. I do not mean to confine myself to any special manner or means of uniting and holding together the ends of the elongation or extension nor to restrict m yself to using such fasteners, since it is clearly within the scope of my invention to entirely dispense with all fasteners and make the upper elongation or extension in the form of one continuous loop.

The advantages of my invention are apparent. It will be observed that a stocking or nether garm ent formed with an upper elongation or extension designed to encircle the lower body portion of the wearer is self-sustaining independent of all garters and other means of support. It will also be noted that by making the elongation or extension as shown in Fig. 23 the same forms a complete covering for the abdomen and lower portion of the body. Hence a nether garment thus constructed can be worn in lieu of drawers or other coverings for the legs.

Vhile I have shown and described my improvements as applied to a stocking, yet I do not confine myself thereto for the obvious reason last stated.

I claim as my invention- 1. A stocking or sectional nether garment having a thigh portion formed with a lateral elongation of length sufficient to pass around the waist of the wearer, and means for fastenin g the same, said elongation being of such width that a pair of said stockings will form a substantially-closed garment, as set forth.

A stocking or sectional nether garment having a laterally-elongated thigh portion of length sufficient to pass around the waist of the wearer, and means for fastening the same, said elongated thigh portion being tapered so that a pair of said stockings will form a substantiallyblosed garment, substantially as set forth.

3. A stocking or sectional nether garment having a thigh portion formed with two lateral extensions of length sufficient to encompass the Waist of the wearer, and means for fastening the ends of said extensions, which latter are tapered so that a pair of said stockin gs will form a substantially-closed garment, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SARAH ANNA WINTER.

Witnesses:

J. NOTA MCGILL, WM. IIODGES. 

